ABRAHAM & the
PATRIARCHS:
Our Fathers of Faith
Homework
(due Thurs., 3/8) Read Gen. 12, 15-16, &
21:1-21; NB: complete RQs
(due ., /) Have skits prepared very well!!!
(due Fri., 3/9) Read Gen. 22:1-19 and
complete RQs
Creation…
Generates
Creation…
God makes things
good
Generates
God makes people
good
De-Creation…
De-Creation…
Alienates
Self > couple ashamed
God > couple hide
Nature>couple to suffer/die
People>Cain murders Abel
De-Creation…
Alienates
Self couple ashamed
God couple hide
Nature couple to suffer/die
People Cain murders Abel
DisintegratesSin spreads Familytrees
Sin destroys Flood story
Re-Creation…
God calls Abraham
Reintegrates
God covenants Abraham
Review: Holy Skit! (10 pts)
Abram: Life of a Nomad
Abram born in Ur,
important
Mesopotamian city
As young man, went
w/ father > Haran
In Haran, at age 75,
A hears God;s call
to go to Canaan
Abram’s Birthplace
Abram’s Journey
Promises to Abram
1. Land and a Nation
2. Kingship and a Name
3. Blessing for all Nations
Christian Interpretation of
Promises Fulfilled
1. Land and a Nation
Fulfilled in covenant with Moses
2. Kingship and a Name
Fulfilled in covenant with David
3. Blessing for all Nations
Fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ
Covenant:
Solemn promise
Sealed with a
solemn ritual
Biblical Name Change
Sign of new mission or calling (vocation,
fr. Latin vocare= to call)
For example:
– Abram (“the Father is exalted”) >
Abra’ham (“father of many [nations]”)
– Sarai (“princess”) > Sar’ah(“Queen”)
Ritual of Circumcision- Why?
Health purposes?
Mark of identity?
Acceptance into
manhood?
Sign of covenant
commitment between
parents & God (best
explanation)
Sacrifice of Isaac
Meanings?
– Basic: Contains all
that faith involves
– Story is a “type”
(Gk., typos) =
“pre-presentation” of
something yet to
come,
Old Testament >
New Testament
Typology of Genesis 22
Isaac
Christ
A father offers his
beloved son
The Father offers
His Beloved Son
The son submits to The Son submits to
the father’s will
the Father’s will
Isaac carries the
wood for his own
sacrifice
Jesus carries his
own wooden cross
Faith involves…
Great trust
Constant struggle
Times of “darkness”
Reflect on This!
What are 3 things you think teenagers
struggle the most with as they try to live their
faith ? What do you question most?
What is 1 very practical thing you can do to
strengthen your faith?
Westerhoff’s “Styles of Faith”
Experienced Faith
– Felt or “picked up” from
others
– Eg. praying with family,
watching others’ way of
living their faith
Westerhoff’s “Styles of Faith”
Affiliative Faith
– Faith of a group
– Believing by
belonging
– Eg. parish
community
Westerhoff’s “Styles of Faith”
Searching Faith
– Faith which struggles
with doubts, fears or
questions
– Typical at times of
change or crisis (teens,
mid-life, etc.)
– Eg. teens’ questions
about Church’s
teachings
Westerhoff’s “Styles of Faith”
Owned Faith
– Mature faith,
“tried & true”
– A faith truly
one’s own
– Eg. joining a
youth group or
praying by choice
The Patriarchs
Abraham
Isaac
Esau
Ishmael
Jacob(Israel)
12 sons
(forerunners of 12 tribes of Israel)
Arabs
Muslims
Isaac & Jacob story illustrates…
God’s way of dealing with “biblical” people
– Respects their free will
– Weaves their sinfulness into plan of salvation
Jewish belief in power of spoken word
– Once uttered, words cannot be revoked
– Like a shot arrow; cannot be “un-shot”